Recommendation for Riflesmith to trouble shoot my Rifle

[Ingwe]

Hello Fellas,

I am having trouble shooting consistent groups with my rifle, so what I would like to do is to send the rifle itself along with a few boxes of my reloads to a rifle smith who can trouble shoot it for me and correct a problem if one is found.....or it could just be me!

Can you recommend one for me? I thought of Hill Country Rifles, Kenny Jarrett, etc. but I would like a few suggestions/comments from you all.

I am not so sure that it's the gun or me. Off the bench with a rear bag and front rest at 100 yards, I will often make a 1/4" 3 shot group then the next two will be an inch away, or I will shoot a 3 shot group that is all over the place. The groups are never more than 1.5" at 100 yards but I am not shooting with any consistency....very frustrating!!

I did find that my groups are very sensitive to the amount of cheek pressure that I am putting on the comb, which doesn't seem to be the case with other rifles I own.

What do you guys think....any suggestions?

 

[Dr. Vette]

What grouping do you then get at 200 and 300 yards? What scope? What rifle and caliber?

Reload info? ES and SD?

We need more information to go on.

 

[Ingwe]

Well.....I never shot it at 300yds!

Unfortunately here in NYC I am lucky that I even have a 100yd Indoor Range!

The rifle is a M70 in 7mmRemMag, trued and re-barreled with a 26" 1:9 Benchmark Barrel by Hill Country Rifles. I had a Manners Stock installed with pillars and bedded by Manners themselves.
The scope is a NightForce ATACR 5-25x56 with Farrel rings and bases. Everything torqued properly.

I am using my own Handloads: 168gr Accubond LR's at 3,128fps.
79.3gr of RL-33 with Federal 215 Mag primers.

Thanks!

 

[Varmint Hunter]

I would certainly try a different load(s) and possibly some factory ammo before coming to any conclusions. Having another shooter test shoot your loads in your gun may help eliminate the human factor as a possible source of the inconsistency.

If all else fails, it should be returned to the builder for an evaluation.

 

[orwapitihunter]

Are you sure you are taking care of parallax?

 

[Ingwe]

Thanks Fellas. I was planning on shooting some factory ammo to rule out an issue with my hand loads and I did dial out paralex before I shot yesterday.

Another thought.....dry firing. When I dry fire, the crosshairs always move a bit, no matter how carefully I squeeze the trigger.

When I squeeze the trigger and the firing pin falls, the bolt always "jumps" up a bit from the fully closed position. I cannot see how the rifle can remain steady through this jump, so I posted this jump issue in an earlier post but was advised that this was normal for a Winchester M70 due to the cocking piece. After hearing this feedback back then, I forgot about it....... Maybe this is an issue?

This gun has my head spinning

 

[deadlift]

A couple things here, shoot the rifle with free recoil then load the bipod. Your groups are inconsestant sounding and its hard to tell if its tension/stress or what the rifle likes. Next change out the firing pin spring, Ive seen many time where a week spring will cause double grouping due to not "firing" hard enough. And lastly call Matt at Hill country as they made the rifle and are a stand-up company that will be glad to help you out.
Chris
Benchmark Barrels

 

[Ingwe]

Thanks for the reply's fellas.

Chris, thanks for chiming in and happy to have your barrel on my gun!

I have a feeling that it is me being inconsistent with my hold...not the rifle since I recently dug up some old targets that I had lying around and they seemed to follow the same pattern.

I am going to shoot prairie dogs next week and I will have my buddy shoot my gun and see what happens.

Chris, how do you feel about the Tubbs Firing Pin System??

 

[Gene]

If it were me, I would find a Very good local shooter who can watch your set up and all preparations before the shot. Contact your local club and ask around.

 

[FEENIX]

If it were me, I would find a Very good local shooter who can watch your set up and all preparations before the shot. Contact your local club and ask around.

+1! A few years ago, I went to the range to recheck zero for my rifle and my 2 sons. Fired 3-shots each, packed rifles, and waited for the range to be safe and retrieve my targets, IIRC, it was every 10-15 minutes when the range is hot.

Meantime, I was admiring the guy's set-up next to me. It was a Blaser 93 with some awesome engraving work in .30-06 and topped with a S&B (can't remember the model) and absolutely beautiful. I can tell that he was struggling; he was shaking his head and was adjusting his scope just about every shots.

He asked me to shot his rifle; at 1st I was hesitant knowing the set-up was ~$10k but I obliged. Fired 3-shots just in time for the RSO to safe the range. Retrieved my targets. The guy's shots was all over the place. The ones I shot was off center but grouped well under 1 MOA at 100 yards. He changed targets for the next round.

I watched him fire the next 3 shots and he was anticipating the recoil; he was actually closing his eyes as he jerked the trigger on every shot. Come to find out he shot a couple of boxes already. When I told him what he was doing he couldn't believe it. The best advice I could offer him at the time was to come back another day. Sadly that was the last time I ever saw him at the range and not sure if he ever figured it out or anybody else was able to work with him.

 

[deadlift]

Thanks for the reply's fellas.

Chris, thanks for chiming in and happy to have your barrel on my gun!
Chris, how do you feel about the Tubbs Firing Pin System??

I like the Tubb springs! As well as the triggers, they seem to be tough and user adjustable
Chris
Benchmark